Bird Dance video 2021 Costume: Acrylic Paint, Cardboard, Craft Paper, Glue, Velcro Duration: 3:23 min
Learning from the magic tricks that a bird can do with its feathers to attract a mate, Bird Dance uses elements of that seduction to create an entrancing and transformative experience for its viewers. Fan-shaped performance objects were used to make the m + Enlarge
Bird Dance 2021 Costume: Acrylic Paint, Cardboard, Craft Paper, Glue, Velcro Duration: 3:23 min
Learning from the magic tricks that a bird can do with its feathers to attract a mate, Bird Dance uses elements of that seduction to create an entrancing and transformative experience for its viewers. Fan-shaped performance objects were used to make the m + Enlarge
Bird Dance 2 2021 Costume: Acrylic Paint, Cardboard, Craft Paper, Glue, Velcro Duration: 3:23 min
Fallen Soldier: Dressed in a robe covered with a net of jute ropes, a masked creature stumbles upon a dress and mask on the ground. The dress was woven with jute rope and had knots on them. He pokes around the dress and quickly realizes the resemblances b + Enlarge
Fallen Soldier 2021 Costume: Jute Rope, Colored Cotton Rope, Cotton Cloth, Cardboard Duration: 7:00 min
Fallen Soldier: Dressed in a robe covered with a net of jute ropes, a masked creature stumbles upon a dress and mask on the ground. The dress was woven with jute rope and had knots on them. He pokes around the dress and quickly realizes the resemblances b + Enlarge
Fallen Soldier 2 2021 Costume: Jute Rope, Colored Cotton Rope, Cotton Cloth, Cardboard Duration: 7:00 min
States of Being is a performance about transcending the boundaries that one puts on themselves. It features two life-size human effigies in an outspread position, which the performer will traverse from one human effigy to the other. The performer begins w + Enlarge
States of Being 2021 Plywood, Acrylic Paint and an Assortment of Papers Duration: 7:00 min
States of Being is a performance about transcending the boundaries that one puts on themselves. It features two life-size human effigies in an outspread position, which the performer will traverse from one human effigy to the other. The performer begins w + Enlarge
States of Being 2 2021 Plywood, Acrylic Paint and an Assortment of Papers Duration: 7:00 min
States of Being is a performance about transcending the boundaries that one puts on themselves. It features two life-size human effigies in an outspread position, which the performer will traverse from one human effigy to the other. The performer begins w + Enlarge
States of Being 3 2021 Plywood, Acrylic Paint and an Assortment of Papers Duration: 7:00 min
States of Being is a performance about transcending the boundaries that one puts on themselves. It features two life-size human effigies in an outspread position, which the performer will traverse from one human effigy to the other. The performer begins w + Enlarge
States of Being 4 2021 Plywood, Acrylic Paint and an Assortment of Papers Duration: 7:00 min
Statement

Relinquishing the quiet sculptures he makes through material exploration, Jia Le Ling embarked on a new adventure to explore performance. His journey began with making puppets and masks and then choreographing movements to go with them. These activities of playing with objects, storytelling, and acting triggered memories of playtime with his cousins. He remembers playing the homewrecking villain while his cousins scurry into their makeshift blanket tent. He is also reminded that he really enjoys reenacting scenes from Kung Fu shows he would watch as a child, jumping from sofa to sofa fighting imaginary villains. In the process of creating these performative works, he felt like he has unlocked a wider scope of playfulness that he did not possess during his material exploration phase. Playfulness is necessary for these performances because the key message is freedom. It is also a way to tell himself to be bold enough to be authentically himself. This does not only refer to self-acceptance of personal identity but also embracing the uniqueness of his own cultural heritage, including those Kung Fu shows he enjoys watching.

Interdisciplinary Sculpture (BFA) Students